Inventory Process Manager

Job Description

Position Overview

The Inventory Process Manager owns the accuracy and integrity of inventory from receipt through storage, production consumption, transfers, work-in-process, finished goods, and shipment. The role analyzes process flows and system transactions, investigates inventory discrepancies to root cause, coordinates corrective action, and develops procedures and training that prevent recurrence.

Core expectation

Do not simply adjust inventory to make the system balance. Determine why the inventory became inaccurate, correct the underlying process, train the people involved, and verify that the issue does not recur.

Essential Job Functions

• End-to-end ownership. Oversee inventory flow, controls, reconciliation, and process discipline across assigned MWW facilities and inventory locations.

• Material lifecycle control. Track material from receiving through storage, production consumption, transfers, WIP, finished goods, and shipment; ensure system transactions reflect actual physical movement.

• Negative and excess inventory. Manage negative inventory and unusually high positive balances; prioritize high-dollar exceptions, determine root cause, document findings, and complete or coordinate corrective action.

• RMBKF / USAGE / RECEIVE / WIP. Analyze balances and transactions in these locations and investigate surplus, shortage, aging, abnormal consumption, and incorrect system movement.

• Receiving and PO accuracy. Ensure materials are received against the correct purchase order and moved to the correct system location. Investigate unmatched packing lists, invoices, receipts, and aged RECEIVE balances.

• Cycle counts and physical verification. Manage cycle count processes, count priorities, variance investigation, and physical verification when system balances cannot be supported by transaction history.

• BOM and backflush accuracy. Investigate discrepancies caused by incorrect BOM quantities, failed or inaccurate backflush, undocumented substitutions, incorrect warehouse assignments, or material consumed outside standard process.

• Warp and yarn control. Review warp inventory in racks, yarn weight/yardage receipts, left/right warp relationships, and system-to-physical discrepancies.

• Production order discipline. Review partially open production orders and work with Production to close completed orders and eliminate unnecessary allocations or aged WIP.

• Inventory transfers and adjustments. Perform or coordinate authorized transfers and adjustments using required approvals and documentation; ensure the reason for each adjustment is recorded.

• Root-cause problem solving. Trace transaction history, physical movement, receiving records, production usage, material requests, BOMs, substitutions, and operator practices until the cause of a discrepancy is understood.

• Process improvement and training. Create or revise SOPs, work instructions, controls, and training; coach employees on correct inventory practices and follow up to verify compliance.

• Cross-functional coordination. Work closely with Production, Shipping/Receiving, Engineering, Accounting, Purchasing/Sourcing, IT, Production Planning, and management to resolve systemic inventory issues.

• Management reporting. Maintain resolution logs and report major risks, recurring causes, aging exceptions, corrective actions, and trend performance to management.

Initial Priority Work

1. Clear high-dollar negative inventory exceptions across facilities, with root cause documented.

2. Reconcile RMBKF versus USAGE and investigate extreme surplus or shortage balances.

3. Validate warp inventory in racks and resolve system-to-physical discrepancies.

4. Eliminate material remaining in RECEIVE beyond the allowed period.

5. Investigate RMBKF / active WIP balances that remain open for extended periods.

6. Identify recurring inventory problems and drive permanent corrective action rather than repeated adjustments.

Systems and Technical Knowledge

• ERP/WMS transaction analysis; Exenta experience is preferred.

• WMS Location Inquiry, Production Order Maintenance, Warehouse Detail Activity, Inventory Transactions and Transfers, BOMs, Raw Material Consumption, and location-level inventory history.

• Working knowledge of BOMs, production orders, receiving, WIP, raw-material consumption, backflush, substitutions, warehouse locations, and inventory controls.

• Strong Excel skills and the ability to analyze exports, reconcile data, identify patterns, and prioritize dollar-value risk.

Education and Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience in inventory control, manufacturing, warehouse operations, production control, supply chain, or a similar role preferred.

• Demonstrated experience with inventory reconciliation, variance investigation, cycle counts, and data analysis.

• Experience working with ERP/WMS systems in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience investigating transaction errors and working directly with manufacturing/warehouse teams to correct process failures.

Key Competencies

• Strong root-cause analysis and follow-through; persistent enough to get to the real cause of a discrepancy.

• High attention to detail and personal accountability for accurate transactions and adjustments.

• Comfort working both at a computer and directly on the manufacturing/warehouse floor.

• Ability to train and coach employees without losing process discipline.

• Strong communication, organization, judgment, and cross-functional teamwork.

• Proactive, results-oriented approach focused on preventing recurrence.

Success Measures

• Inventory accuracy and cycle-count accuracy.

• Reduction in negative inventory dollars and unexplained excess inventory.

• Reduction in inventory adjustments and aged RECEIVE / WIP balances.

• Receiving and PO transaction accuracy.

• Time to resolve material inventory exceptions.

• Reduction in repeat inventory issues and percentage of recurring causes permanently eliminated.